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Plenty of people out today in Huntington. Pinnacle had a line of what by the looks of those approaching planned on climbing protected. Central also looked to be getting climbed by a group of two, at least they where heading that way when i hung a left for Odell's. A group of two had climbed Odell's taking the middle lone prior to myself. A group of three was climbing roped and with what looked like good protection on the right side. Just as i was setting out to climb myself a couple boy/girl arrived i think also roping up to climb the center and or left?

If you wanna climb there is ice that is for sure. How good that ice is and how safe well i will leave that to you to decide. I def kicked through and put my axe through a couple places. I also down climbed to choose another line once or twice as what looked solid was not! I returned the Tuckerman Ravine trail. I stopped about half way down to chat with a nice guy heading up. Not 5 minutes later i had gotten to the bottom and was chatting up a couple that had just bailed off some lower ice bulges when i turned to hear a good crash of ice followed by a slide. Nothing major but enough that you would not have wanted to be under it. Crazy part is it was exactly where i had just been talking with that nice old guy.

That's what i got! I would say the next week of cold should do some real good. Def need some snow to fill some stuff in though. The approaches are not horrible but lets just say it is not the normal mid December approach or decent.

10 hours on the rock pile yesterday and froze my a*#s off! winds were unrelenting and the temps were single digits. I had heard that it dipped somewhere around -20-25F with the wind chill. We climbed all day in Tucks and conditions are coming along. Probably 6-8" of fresh powder as we hiked in past the hut to the head of the bowl. Open Book was climbable and there were a number of parties climbing that route (as did we). Some stuff forming and climbable in the center of the headwall and left of left is coming in very nicely. We would have gone over there as both that and left gully looked nice, but the approach was boney and heinous!Despite the cold temps, water was running pretty freely under all of the routes and the ice is still fairly undermined. Once we get more snow, conditions should firm up. Wear the micro spikes at the Tucks trail is a nightmare without them!

Grammy

« Last Edit: December 19, 2011, 06:16:27 AM by old_school »

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"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes."

Here's the latest from Rich, the caretaker at the Harvard Cabin up by Huntington. If anyone should know what's up in the Ravines, it's Rich.

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Seasons Greetings,

Just a quick holiday greeting as Marcia and I are about to head back up thetrail with our annual Christmas Ham. Cabin visitors over the next few daysmay get to enjoy some left-overs! Sorry, no guarantees!

*General Conditions*

Conditions are improving ever so slightly. Weather is still extremelyvariable. For example, I enjoyed the my first frosty beard in O'Dells lastFriday while climbing with HMC President Peter McCarthy. Then on Wednesday,it was a glove-less day in Pinnacle Gully. Even still, it was about thebest ice I've climbed this season!

So, without getting into too much detail, it is slowly but surely startingto look and feel like winter on the Rockpile. Hermit Lake Caretaker DaveWeston and I were able to make about 30 linked turns on a powdery summitcone on Sunday, December 17th. As is normal, South-Easterly aspects makefor nice catch, even when snow-fall is minimal. Of course, not too longafter that we saw temperatures rise again along with the return of mixedand liquid precipitation.

Of course, the precipitation and relatively thin snow-pack, is making forsome interesting conditions on higher-angle terrain, thus prompting theseason's first General Advisory to be posted for Tuckerman Ravine. You canread the Advisory and see recent photos taken in the Ravines athttp://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org.

*Traction Required*

As you've probably guessed, the unstable weather has made for someinteresting trail conditions. Just short of needing to pitch-out theTuckerman Ravine Trail, for now traction is REQUIRED! Of course, cramponswill work but lighter forms of traction like Micro-spikes, Yak-Traks,Stabilicers, etc would be ideal. To be clear, the Tuckerman Ravine Trail islocked in Ice from Pinkham to Hermit Lake, so please be careful, especiallywith heavy packs. Exercise extra caution if you are using your cramponswhile traveling on hiking trails.

*Harvard Cabin Registration*

Just a reminder, if you are planning on staying at Harvard Cabin,registration is first come, first serve. The Harvard Cabin Register can befound at the Front-Desk at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center from 6:30 AM - 9:00PM. After hours, 9:00 PM - 6:30 AM, you'll find the register downstairs inthe Pack-up room. Please take time to read all instructions and informationand to complete the registration process. This will ensure everyone's stayat Harvard Cabin is comfortable and enjoyable!

I'm hoping for a busy holiday week. If you're coming up for NewYears.....bring a tent, just in case it gets a little too "hot" in thecabin!Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and Happy Climbing!

*NOTE - Harvard Cabin is not affiliated with the Appalachian Mountain Club.Harvard Cabin is maintained by Harvard Mountaineering Club for use by thegeneral public. The cabin is operated under a special-use permit granted bythe USDA Forest Service. Cabin space and tent-sites are available on afirst-come, first-serve basis between December 1st and April 1st each year.Specific instructions for staying at the cabin can be found online at **http://www.HarvardMountaineering.org*<http://www.harvardmountaineering.org/>*.*

I drove through Crawford notch last evening around 5:00PM...It was a mix of snow and freezing rain. We received about an inch of snow and then got freezing rain on top of that last night (Hurricane Mt. Road). Needless to say, the driveway is a sheet of ice! Colder temps this evening on through the rest of the week should help. Not sure the damage was as bad as we all anticipated. Hopefully the temps today don't affect those areas in the higher elevations. We will see...going out tomorrow to climb!

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"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes."

Happy New Year! It's been a while since I've been able to get my hands onthe keyboard for any length of time. Holiday week was quieter thenanticipated, New Years Eve was rocking, and the first week of 2012 wasunexpectedly jam packed - inside and out - despite the persistent talus!

*Snow, Snow, Snow - Finally!!!*

So far this season, an extra value point should be added to commitmentratings attached to climbable ice routes in New England! Thankfully, (*hopefully*) getting to the cabin and into Huntington Ravine will be a weebit easier after our first major winter storm system of the season is donegifting us with much needed snow! It's been dumping all day.....it wouldseem that winter has FINALLY arrived! Here in the White Mountains anyway.As with most of the country, I'm sure you are still dealing with persistentwarm temps and rain! It seems you now have an opportunity to escape to abit of winter! Come on up!

As much fun as it was skiing the 6+ inches of low-density, super dry, eastcoast POW, as I headed down the Sherburne Ski Trail this afternoon, thisstorm is going to be hard-pressed to provide the snow-totals we couldreally use. The water-bars on the Sherb are far from full. However, I'm notcomplaining, it now looks and feels like winter! The turns were soft andvelvety and, for now, the trails are *pleasantly *skinnable. It was surelydumping on the Rock Pile today. Arriving at Pinkham, I was even tempted tothrow down some dinero for some lift service this afternoon but wascurtailed by "early season" hours of operations at the local ski hill. Ohwell, it can only get better from here on out! Keep your fingers crossed!

*Reminders and Close Calls*

Even before the new snow fell, the extended early season had yielded a fewturns here and there. I've had a couple of great days skiing in TuckermanRavine. Of course, it's quality over quantity. From lower angle aspects inthe bowl to top-bottom runs in Left Gully, powder stashes to frozen debris,it's all been there. In all honesty, however, there haven't been manyskiers on the mountain so far this season and for good reason. Mainly, theapproach and egress. Furthermore, snow pack conditions have been variableand testy, even before 5-Scale Forecasting began for the season. If youhaven't already, you can read about a few significant early seasonincidents that have occurred over the last couple of weeks. Definitelyworth the read and to serve as a reminder of the dangers that exist in theplayground we all know and love! ClickHere<http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/search-rescue/2011-2012-summaries/>toread the summaries for incidents so far this season. If we take timenowto prepare ourselves mentally, perhaps we can prevent the need for furtherentries this season.

*5 Scale Avalanche Danger Rating in Effect*

Speaking of which, if you haven't heard, the 5-Scale avalanche ratingsystem was implemented for the season on January 5th, 2012. It was a longtime coming, but conditions finally warranted to move from GeneralAdvisory. We can now expected daily updates on Avalanche Conditions inTuckerman and Huntington Ravine along with a the other normally forecastareas like Hillman's Highway and the lower snow fields. But, you alreadyknew this because you visithttp://www.MountwashingtonAvalancheCenter.orgeveryday or are otherwiseinformed through the variety of Social MediaOutlets that the center uses to get the word out! There is no excuse not toknow before you go. If you are unfamilar with the system, you can learnmore by ClickingHere<http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/avalanche-safety/5-scale-danger-scale/>.and, if crossing paths, be sure to thank the hard-working and superdedicated Snow Rangers we are fortunate to have here in New Hampshire!

*Harvard Cabin Trail Sign*

Finally, a much needed and very much appreciated sign pointing mountaintravelers towards Harvard Cabin, as been posted at the intersection of theTuckerman Ravine Trail and the Fire Road. Since I've been caretaker, andcertainly with the delayed opening of the Lion Head Winter Route, manyguests have arrived at the cabin via an unintended visit to Hermit Lake.Always a thrill for the Tux Caretaker, especially around midnight on aFriday night. It may be the smallest sign in the White Mountain NationalForest, but it sure is appreciated! As I've been told all of my life, "Goodthings come in small packages!". Once again, Thanks to the Forest ServiceSnow Rangers for making this happen! I should mention, that until the thickof winter, taking the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the Fireroad is thepreferred and most efficient approach to the cabin. Even with a full wintersnowpack, the well-travelled Tuckerman Ravine Trail is the fast and easiestmeans to getting to and from the cabin, especially at night.

*Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest - Febuary 3-5, 2012*

As the weekend approaches, details of the Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest2012 are emerging daily! New guest guides are being announced, moresponsors, and promotions, oh and don't forget, Harvard Mountaineering Clubwill be part of the fun this year! So, get signed up for your clinics andget ready to have a blast picking your way trough the valley!!! It is *w-IN-ter*!

*Weekend Update - Winter is here!*

Well, it's about time for me to head back up-hill. I'm happy to havefinally had the time for another update. This weekend is lookingextra-wintry. While Sunday is looking bluebird, the temps will be frigidand winds fierce and shifting. This is going to make the alpine extrachallenging. Included in this challenge will be dynamic snow and avalancheconditions. You should look forward to tomorrows Weekend Update from theMount Washington Avalanche Center, posted at *http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org*<http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org>.

If we are forced to stay low this weekend, stay postive! The season hasalready been quite delayed already and, as I tell guests every week, if youare patient this mountain will reward you. This weekend maybe what themountains needs to finally complete it's transition to winter, makingmountain travel safer and easier. Give The Rock Pile the time it needs andyou are sure to enjoy a long and productive season.

Be Safe, Be Conservative, and Be at Harvard Cabin,

*Rich Palatino*Harvard Cabin Caretaker

*NOTE - Harvard Cabin is not affiliated with the Appalachian Mountain Club.Harvard Cabin is maintained by Harvard Mountaineering Club for use by thegeneral public. The cabin is operated under a special-use permit granted bythe USDA Forest Service. Cabin space and tent-sites are available on afirst-come, first-serve basis between December 1st and April 1st each year.Specific instructions for staying at the cabin can be found online at **http://www.HarvardMountaineering.org*<http://www.harvardmountaineering.org/>

Lots and lots of snow on the Mountain on Thursday and probably more on Friday. WMUR even had a not on the evening news about how avalanche conditions in the Ravines were HIGH and asking people not to even go there. I would advise extreme caution anywhere there is a possibility of loading.

The snowpack is going to be deteriorating rapidly. So far, we’ve already swapped to the Lion Head summer trail, begun issuing General Advisories for Huntington, and parked our snow cat for the season. Currently there is good coverage in a lot of areas, especially Hillman’s, Left Gully, and the Chute. The quality of the snow will be going downhill though. The lack of freezing temperatures at night and the intense heat create wet slushy snow. This carves deep runnels as the sluff skiers kick off flows downhill. These get progressively deeper, and negotiating these troughs is challenging. Overall, we are well ahead of where we normally are at this time of year. This means the annual springtime hazards have emerged and you need to be aware of them.

Falling Ice. Through the years, there have been many significant injuries and even fatalities from falling ice. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid spending time in the potential path of icefall, which can happen almost anywhere right now. In Tuckerman, the most dangerous ice can be found in the Center Bowl as well as directly above Lunch Rocks in the Sluice. If ice falls from the Sluice, it can send shrapnel into every nook and cranny of Lunch Rocks. For this reason, Lunch Rocks is not a safe place to sit! You’re better off parking yourself down low in the floor or on the climber’s left side of the Bowl.Undermined Snow. Currently, this hazard looms largest for those who want to exit the bowl via the Little Headwall. The Little Headwall itself has already collapsed and is an open waterfall. The streambed above is a series of open water holes and weak snow bridges. I strongly recommend taking off your skis and hiking the trail back to Hermit Lake.Crevasses. This hazard forms as the wintertime snowpack creeps slowly downhill, pulling away from cliffs, rocks, and in places, from itself. These are just beginning to open up, but over the next few days I think we’ll start to see them become more and more problematic. We recommend hiking up the route you plan to descend so you can assess the hazards in advance.The Sherburne Ski Trail has taken some abuse this past week. Bare spots, rocks, and water ice have all made their appearance, and with the current weather they’re only going to get worse.

We have transitioned to the Lion Head Summer Trail. The winter Lion Head route is now closed. Please avoid using this route to avoid damaging the soil on the steep section of trail. The Summer Trail does have a lot of snow on it. Plan for wet snow and postholing over the next several days.

For you ice junkies, Left of Left has come back in, and is in excellent, fat, sticky conditions. I expect it'll be good for a bit as it is shaded and has been cold at night. The right side is 3ish, the left 3+ish.

We've had some little bit of ice, but as always it's and ephemeral thing. The hard rain we had early in the week, plus another drizzly day on Thursday, more or less killed what was there and it really hasn't been cold enough to reform things.